This study aimed to assess dental caries status of 3- to 6-year-old preschool children in the Republic of Serbia. Stratified cluster sampling was implemented. Children were examined in four administrative regions of Serbia. Dental caries indices (decayed, missing, and filled) for deciduous teeth and the first permanent molar were recorded at the tooth level (dmft, DMFT) and surface level (dfs, DFS). In addition to cavitated caries lesions (ICDAS 3-6), visual changes in enamel (ICDAS 1-2) were recorded. This study included 1060 3-year-old and 1820 6-year-old children in Serbia. Fifty-six percent of 3-year-olds and 21% of 6-year-olds were caries-free. The mean dmft was 2.11 ± 3.45 for 3-year-olds and 4.46 ± 3.69 for 6-year-olds. The mean dfs was 2.62 ± 5.56 for 3-year-olds and 6.06 ± 6.33 for 6-year-olds. The decayed component was dominant in dmft/dfs. The prevalence of surfaces with initial lesion was 8% for 3-year-olds and 13% for 6-year-olds. Among children diagnosed with early childhood caries, 54% of 3-year-olds and 37% of 6-year-olds had a severe form. The mean DMFT was 0.15 ± 0.55, with only the first permanent molars being affected. Dental caries remains a significant public dental health issue among preschool children in Serbia. There is a noticeable trend of increasing numbers of decayed teeth as children progress through their preschool years. It is imperative to take corrective action enhance the existing oral health prevention program in Serbia with the aim of achieving better dental health among preschool children.

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) arises from force-induced mechanotransduction within the periodontal ligament (PDL), which coordinates osteoblast and osteoclast activity with immune responses to remodel the PDL and alveolar bone. This review integrates contemporary biological insights on OTM and assesses photobiomodulation (PBM) as an adjunctive therapy. We propose that mechanical and photonic inputs may interact and potentiate signaling through the Ca²⁺-NFAT, MAPK (ERK, p38, JNK), PI3K–Akt–mTOR, NF-kB, TGF-β/Smad, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Such interaction could influence processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, specific cellular functions, apoptosis, autophagy, and communication between stromal and immune cells. This convergence establishes a solid foundation for understanding the context-dependent effects of PBM in OTM. In principle, PBM appears most effective as a phase-tuned adjunct, promoting early inflammatory recruitment of osteoclasts and subsequently facilitating late-phase remodeling through immunomodulatory and reparative mechanisms. However, inconsistent irradiation parameters, small sample sizes, trial heterogeneity, and the absence of mechanistic endpoints undermine current conclusions. Furthermore, the lack of integrated PBM–OTM models limits mechanistic understanding, as much of the available evidence is derived from non-OTM contexts. Overall, PBM remains a promising adjunct in orthodontics, with the potential to integrate mechanical and photonic signals in a phase-dependent manner, though its application is not yet standardized.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of four radiological methods for dental age estimation and to test which method is the most reliable in Montenegrin children. Methods: To determine dental age, we examined 351 panoramic radiographs of 190 female and 161 male children between the ages of 6 and 12 using the Demirjian method, Willems method, the European formula, and the BAF. The estimated dental age was compared with the chronological age, and the average, absolute, and standard deviations were calculated. Results: When comparing dental age to chronological age in females, overestimation occurred when using the Demirjian and Willems methods, whereas the European formula and the BAF resulted in underestimations. Only the European formula underestimated dental age in males, while the other three methods caused overestimations in comparison to chronological age. The European formula and the BAF revealed that, when all age groups were included, approximately 57.1–61% of patients deviated from their chronological age by less than six months. When using Demirjian’s method, nearly 30–35% of patients had dental ages that were either overestimated or underestimated by more than a year. Conclusions: The most accurate method for estimating the dental age of children under 13 in the Montenegrin population is the European formula. The Demirjian method had the lowest accuracy, whereas that in the BAF and the Willems method was similar.

Background and Objectives: The key factor that enables osteoblastic activity and the formation of new bone, as well as gingiva, during orthodontic tooth extrusion (OE) is the periodontal ligament. The reaction of periodontal tissues associated with changes in the gingiva is a part of orthodontic tooth displacement. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of OE on the width of the zone of the keratinized and attached gingiva, the position of the mucogingival junction, and the height of the interdental papillae in the region where the OE was performed as well as in the adjacent region. Materials and Methods: This research included 28 adult patients (both orthodontically treated and untreated). The treated group included 15 patients, in whom orthodontic extrusion of the upper or lower frontal teeth was indicated and performed. The untreated group included 13 patients, with no previous or undergoing orthodontic treatment. Patients with periodontal disease and periodontal pockets in the frontal region and patients allergic to iodine were excluded from the study. Gingivomorphometric measurements were performed on two occasions in three groups of teeth (24 extruded and 30 agonist teeth in the treated patients; 66 teeth in the untreated patients). Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed using the software package SPSS version 26.0. Results: Orthodontic extrusion induced changes in the position of the mucogingival line and an increase in the width of the keratinized gingiva. There were no statistically significant effects on the depth of the gingival sulcus, the attached gingiva width, or the height of the interdental papillae. Conclusions: Orthodontic tooth extrusion has an effect on the periodontium in the observed region. Vertical orthodontic force, directed towards the coronal plane, affects the surrounding soft oral tissues.

Introduction/Objective. The aim of the study was to test the accuracy of Belgrade Age Formula (BAF) for dental age estimation on the sample of Montenegrin children. Methods. The radiographs of 134 Montenegrin children (67 females and 67 males) saved as ?jpeg? files were analyzed with Image J software. Sex, the number of teeth with complete development, apex width and tooth length of the mandibular canine and second molar were used in order to calculate dental age with the BAF formula. Results. The discrepancy between estimated dental age and chronological age was -0.088 ? 0.64 years; the absolute difference was 0.52 ? 0.39 years. The percentage of participants whose estimated dental age differed six months from their chronological age was 61.2 and 53.7 for females and males, respectively, while the percentage of participants whose estimated dental age differed 12 months from their chronological age was 94 and 83.6 for females and males, respectively. Conclusion. The BAF may be an accurate approach for estimating dental age in Montenegrin children aged 10?12 years with uncompleted tooth development. However, BAF has to be evaluated on a larger sample of Montenegrin infants in future studies.

Introduction/Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of dental students and young dentists towards caries management and principles of minimum intervention cariology. Methods. Students filled in the online questionnaire that included: 1) attitudes and knowledge about the use of caries risk (CR) assessment tools in clinical practice; 2) treatment plans in clinical case scenarios of smooth surface and occlusal caries in relation to CR; 3) impact of different diagnostic procedures on the management of dentin caries, tooth preparation and preferred restoration techniques and materials. Results. The majority of students thought that CR should influence the treatment plan. Oral hygiene was considered the most important CR factor. More invasive treatment was chosen in high CR patients. The most important criterion for caries removal was dentin hardness. The majority of students would completely remove soft dentine in deep caries lesions, either in one-step or two-step preparation technique. Composite was the most frequently selected restorative material. Conclusion. Conventional approach to caries management is still widely accepted among students and young dentists. Their knowledge of minimum intervention dentistry is limited. Periodic assessment of implemented curriculum and teachers? calibration could serve as resources for improving the teaching process.